Claflin major offers ‘step into the underground railroad’

                          Jalevina King

“African and African American studies has given me a deeper sense of pride regarding who I am,” Jalevina King said. 

The African and African American studies program at Claflin University hosted an ASCAS Southern Regional Conference. The goal of the event was to bring together scholars, thinkers, planners, artists, students, scientists and technicians to promote and restore the ancient African heritage.

Jalevina King, a Claflin senior majoring in African and African American studies, was one of the student presenters at the conference. She described her major as a “step into the underground railroad” for those who don’t understand the concept of African and African American studies.

“Think Underground Railroad not in a physical way but more of a mental way. My major takes people through time capsules of different eras or different pov’s of what it means to be Black and or African American,” King said.

“It is a liberating major in so many ways because you can directly see yourself in the study and if not yourself, your cousin, or auntie, or uncle,” King said.

She described it as stepping into your grandmother’s house for the summer and knowing you’re about to learn all the recipes. “Both cooking and life recipes.”

Growing up, King says it was a must to know where she came from. 

Her love for Africana comes from her dad and the time they spent together bonding through unpacking media and art from the civil rights era.

“Before college I lost my dad and wanted to find a piece of him, so I chose to make African and African American studies my minor,” King said.

She then later switched it to her major after taking a class at Claflin that made her realize how important it is to her.

“Most people think that African and African American studies is students aimlessly talking about the Black experience, but is a very rooted and grounded major,” King said.

She believes the biggest misconception about her major is that some believe Black history is not important or people “know enough” about Black history.

“It’s one thing to know who you are but knowing the history of who you are is so powerful,” King said.

She takes pride in her major, believing it allows her to find the root of deep-rooted issues and be more empathetic because she’s understanding of the circumstances that got the Black community where it is today.

Jalevina plans to use her degree to do community and non-profit work surrounding wellness and health initiatives, but that’s not all.

“I want my career to reflect my last four years of studying, and that’s rooted in African and American studies and psychology.”

She plans on working in African and African American museums with her focus on educational and developmental programs and later going into curatorial positions.